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F. M. TUBBS.

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 19H.

1 326K296, Patented May 21,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR WIITNESSES v v v F] M. TUBES.

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' APPLICATION HLEDJUNEZT. 1917- 1,67,29.; Yatented May 21,1918. v 2EEEEEEEEEEEE 2.

FRANK MHJPUBIBS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1918.

Application filed June 27, 1917; Serial No. 177,345.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. Tomas, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Seats, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to seats, especially adapted for use in theaters,halls, churches and the like.

In the present arrangement of seats in theaters and other places wherelarge audiences assemble, it is customary to provide one or moreentrance aisles for the purpose of seating and emptying the auditorium.In order that the greatest possible seating capacity may be provided,the number of these aisles is necessarily limited, so that there is agreat number of seats between each of the aisles. This compels latearrivals to climb over those already seated, to the discomforture of allparties and it is especially annoying in theaters where there is acontinuous performance, such as moving picture houses and the like. Thepresent arrangment also retards the emptying of the auditorium in theevent of fire or other disaster, as the occupants must pass between therows of seats to reach the aisles, which obstructs the passage andsometimes results in loss of life.

In order the overcome these disadvantages, the invention contemplatesthe improvement of an automatic folding seat or seats, which are securedto stationary seats and so arranged as to provide additional entranceand exit aisles, the seats being constructed so as to automatically foldWithin and against the stationary seats 1n a manner to offer noobstructing surfaces to catch upon the clothing of persons passing alongsaid aisles.

A further objectis to provide a folding seat of the above descriptionwhich is operated by gravity so that there are no springs or othermechanism to become broken or disarranged, thereby impairing theusefulness of the invention, v

A still further object is to provide a seat of this description which isof exceedingly simple construction, so that itmay be manufactured at aminimum cost, at the same Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 butillustrating the folding seats raised so as to form the additionalaisle;

Fig. 3 is a sectional "iew on the line 38 of Fig. 1;

Fig. i is a similar view on the line 4-4: of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the folding seat in position for use, alsoshowing a fragmentary portion of its supporting or stationary seat, thelatter being broken away todisclose the hollow back, within whichghlelback' of the movable seat is adapted to Fig. 6 is a similar viewwith the seat raised; and Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 ofFig. 1.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings. 1

In the drawings there are illustrated'a plurality of seats arranged sideby side, after the manner of seats in theaters, halls or other placeswhere large audiences assemble. These seats are designated by thereference character 10 and may be of any suitable form or design, theones shown being for the purpose of illustrating and explaining the usesof the invention. The seats 10 are secured to the floor in any mannerdesired, and are provided with hollow backs 11, so as to provide uponthe inner end seat a pocket which is adapted to receive the back of afolding seat to be later described. While the seats 10 may be of anyform suitable for the purpose, they are preferably provided withpartitions 12,

which are located along one edge of the arms 13, for the purpose ofproviding one arm rest for each of the seats and prohibitingthe-occupant of the adjacent seat from crowding,

In the arrangement; shown in Figs, 1 and 2, there are provided three ofthe stationary seats 10, one of which is located on the main.- aisle A.Hingedly secured to the seat uponthe opposite end is: a movable seatleathe weight of the seat and serve to normallyretain: it in aposition,folded againstmthe end. or side of theadjacent seat and when in thisposition the entire backwill be concealed Within the pocket formed. inthe back 11 of the. said. stationary seat. In order to support a movableseat in position for use,

there ishingedly secured theretoas shown t, at 18, legs 19, the saidlegs being designed to automatically fold against the bottom of the seat14; when the said seatis in its. raised position. The legs 19 are hingedto the seat ina. manner to limit their'movement in one direction, and inorder to prevent their movement in an: oppositedirection when the seatis in an operative position, there is provided an inclined member 30,which is rig-idly secured to the, side of the stationary seat at a point-to: ermit of the engagement of the lower-end ot the leg 19therewith. Inorder to provide for. this engagement the lower end of the leg carries alaterally extending engaging lug 31, which is adapted to engage theinclined surface of the member 30 in the upward and downward movement ofthe leg 19 and when this leg rests upon the floor the contact of themember 3D with the member 30lprevents an inward movement,v while'itsmanner of hinging prevents any movement inv an opposite directiOII. Y

If desired, suitable rubber buttons may be secured to the bottom of thelegs'19 as shown at 20; or at other contacting-points of the movableseat, so as to eliminate noise in the operation of these seats.-

The arrangement shown 1n Figs. 1 andv 2 provides three stationary seatsadjacent the main aisle- A and two movable seats, which are adapted tobe folded againststationary seats to provide an auxiliary aisle -B,- asclearly shown in Fig. 2, the number of these auxiliary aislesof coursedepending upon the distance between the main aisles- If desired, oneof=these folding seats may be secured to eaclr'of-the-end seats adjacentthe main'aisle so thatin emptying the auditorium they are automaticallyfolded within and against the stationary seat so as to not decrease thewidth of this aisle.

The arrangen'ient shown and described is especially suitable for movingpicture theaters; or-other theaters having a continual performance ,thestationary seats being first filled, before the movable seats are used,so that it is unnecessary for late arrivals to climb over and obstructthe view of persons alreadyseated, or to otherwise discom o e h m a .c

It is believed that the foregoing description when taken inconnection-with the accompanying drawings} will be sufficient to enablepersons [skilled in the 7 art, to understand lt'heconstruction;operation and advantages ,of the invention and that afurther description.isunnecessary. The right isjrejserved to make, such;changes as fall within the scope of the appended claims. p

Having described the invention, what-is claimed is:

1., The combination with ofa movable seat secured thereto and meanswhereby said movable seat maybe swung upward within and against thestationary seat.

of avmovable seat secured thereto andinea'ns whereby said, movable seatmay be automatically swung upward within and against the stationaryseat.

a stationary seat",

2, The combination withaf stationary seat,

3. The comblnationwith a, stationary seat,

of a movable seat hinged thereto: and means whereby said movable seatmay be folded within and against the stationary. seat. o

4:. The'combinationwith astationary seat e provided with ahollow back,amovable seat secured to said: stationary seat and means whereby themovable seat 'may be swung upwardagainst the stationaryseat and withinihe; 0 9? b k-- v I 5. The combinati 0'11 wane static naryv seatprovided1 with, a hollow back,v a, movable seatsecuned to saidstationary seat and means whereby the back of the movable seat maybefolded ,within-theback of a stationary seat, and the seat and thesupport ing legs of the movable seat folded agains the stationary seat t6. The comb1nat1onwitli, stationary'seat vprovidedwith. ahollow back, a.movable seat having thelseat portion hinged to the, side of thestationary seat, a back rigidly 'secured tothe stationary seat andadapted to automatically fold within the hollow. back of the stationaryseat. I my 7 Theeombination with .afstationary seat" providediwith ahollow back, a movable seat having its seat portion hinged to the sideofthe-stationary seat, aback rigidly: secured to t1'1e movable seat. andada pted to fold withinthe-back ofthe stationary, seat-{and a weightcarriedby the back of the folding seat. v

8. The combination with a support, of a seat hinged thereto and adaptedto be folded against said support, a supporting leg hinged to said seatin a manner to limit its movement in one direction and means carried bythe support for preventing movement of the leg in an opposite direction,When the seat is in an operative position.

9. The combination with a support, of a 10 seat hinged thereto andadapted to be folded against said support, a supporting leg hinged tosaid seat in a manner to limit its movement in one direction and aninclined member hingedly secured to said support for preventing movementof the leg in an opposite direction When the seat is in an operativeposition.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FRANK M. TUBBS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

